Street Art and the Arab Spring: The Passage from Revolution to Institution

Abstract

In few decades, street art has succeeded in migrating from the hidden undergrounds to the open streets. Shortly after the Arab uprisings in 2011, street art has proliferated in almost all the Arab countries. Each country used it for its own purpose, producing works of art that are unique to the place where they were produced. This article traces the evolution of street art during and after the Arab Spring. Drawing from social theory, it discusses the context that catalysed the emergence of some Arab street art experiences and the dynamics that interplayed, strongly marking the artistic scene during and after the Arab Spring. The article is a prelude to further research conducted on the street art scene in the MENA region.